Thursday’s announcement of $2.4bn to secure the future of the Whyalla Steelworks has workers at ease for the short term

The $2.4bn announcement to secure the future of the Whyalla Steelworks has been met with praise by the workers plagued with uncertainty over the future of the plant.

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Growing up in the shadows of the Steelworks, Robert Hullah is about as Whyalla born and bred as you can get.

But after years of uncertainty over the future of the plant, Mr Hullah was forced to have some tough conversations about whether his family would pack up in the search of a more reliable income.

He said Thursday’s announcement that the state and federal governments would spend $2.4bn to secure the future of the Steel City has answered those concerns in the short term.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas visiting with workers at Whyalla Steelworks. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

Peter Malinauskas and Anthony Albanese on the ground at Whyalla Steelworks. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

“We’ve been speculating for a while and watching the news,” Mr Hullah told The Advertiser.

“For a father of a young family and having grown up here my whole life, there were some concerns for a lot of people about whether we stay or do we go.

“It’s really nice to secure our future now, it’s really going to go a long way.”

Mr Hullah was among hundreds of employees who gathered today at the steelworks as Premier Peter Malinauskas and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially unveiled the rescue package, with rounds of applause and cheers breaking out among the crowd.

“The people who really run this country, who make a difference every day are the people in front of me,” Mr Albanese told the crowd of locals, who have been calling for help.

“Without you we don’t have Australian steel going into railway lines, going into buildings, going into our defence industries, making such an enormous difference not just here in South Australia, but right across our entire country.”

Mr Hullah said workers still carried concerns about their future at the site, but hoped there would be no significant wage cut, like there was in 2017 when the site went into administration.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressing the media during a visit to the Whyalla Steelworks. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially unveiled the rescue package, with rounds of applause and cheers breaking out among the crowd. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

“It’s really good that the state and federal governments are on the same page and working together to make sure Australian steel is going to be produced here for years to come,” he said.

“There’s always a lot of risk with these things and I’m sure we are just opening another can of worms.

“Who knows how this administration will go, but we hope it’s all moving in the right direction.”

Worker Hayley Piel was slightly more skeptical about the plans.

“We are relieved, but as long as they follow through with the plan, that’s the most important thing,” Ms Piel said.

“The workers are always going to get behind it, but there’s a lot of people who are worried about what is going to happen next.

“If they can start proving to us that they are committed, the whole workforce is going to be behind it.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting with workers at Whyalla Steelworks. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

Another worker, who didn’t want to be named, said the wider Whyalla community had been crying out for help for months.

“$2.4 billion is probably the news Whyalla has had not only in my lifetime, but in its history,” he said.

“It has felt like the whole town has been dragging its feet.

“Everything has been starting to slow down, the issues with the blast furnace, we’ve been struggling to get PPE and real simple stuff like that.

“It’s been hard to come in and keep your head up.

“Everyone has done a fantastic job and done our best to keep everything running the best way possible.

“It’s a credit to everyone that works here, people have been fantastic through this tough period.”

He was confident the package would be a shot in the arm for not only the steelworks, but for contractors and local businesses.

“I was at the pub last night and it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it,” he joked.

“It just means security for so many people, that’s all people are after.”

“It’s an aging workforce, but there’s a big influx of young lads coming through, people starting families.”